1997 CSU football team left a lasting legacy as WAC, Holiday Bowl champions

A look back at the 1997 CSU football team. The group is being inducted into the CSU athletics Hall of Fame this week.
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The 1997 CSU football team won the Holiday Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 17 in the nation. They will be the first team inducted into the CSU athletics Hall of Fame this week.(Photo: AP photo)

The roster of the 1997 CSU football team is a who’s who of Ram legends.

“No wonder we won,” coach Sonny Lubick said with a laugh this week. “We had good players.”

Good players, a good coaching staff, plenty of motivation and a redemptive bowl win was the story of the 1997 team, which will be inducted into the Colorado State University Hall of Fame on Friday.

The Rams lost in the Holiday Bowl in 1994 and 1995 after winning the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title each year.

In 1996 they sat home during bowl season after a 7-5 season with several close losses.

“I’ve never been so mad in my life,” Ross said.

But they also knew they had a good mix of veterans and younger players going into 1997, all fueled by frustration of missing out on the postseason fun the prior year.

The Rams stumbled twice early against the University of Colorado and Air Force, and then they took off. They ripped off win after win, including an unusual Sunday game against Tulsa after the great October blizzard forced a postponement.

CSU blasted San Diego State University 38-17 at Qualcomm Stadium in the final regular season game to secure a trip to the WAC title game. Once there, CSU rolled New Mexico 41-13 behind 255 rush yards from McDougal.

That set up a third trip to the Holiday Bowl in four years. The No. 18 Rams would face No. 19 Missouri at Qualcomm Stadium.

“That was our home,” said Ross. CSU had more than 35 players from California on the roster.

“That was the opportunity to prove that we belonged in a bowl game of that caliber,” Moreno said.

Moreno threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Darran Hall scored on a 14-yard reverse and 85-yard punt return. CSU clinched the 35-24 win when backup QB Ryan Eslinger ran a fake field goal 23 yards up the middle for a score.

The defense, which forced 43 turnovers on the season and helped CSU lead the nation in turnover margin, was primed with the help of Ross and the band.

“I called up the band and was like ‘when we’re on defense, can you bump that Terminator music?’ Like we can’t be stopped,” Ross said.

Something worked, because Missouri only had 68 pass yards.

Then it was party time back at the team hotel.

“It seemed like there were several thousand people in there — and the band,” Lubick said. “What a good feeling, winning and bringing some pride to the university and giving the students something to be proud about.”

School records: Most TDs (59), Average yards per play (6.7) and most points scored (442).

Honors: Sonny Lubick was WAC Coach of the Year and Moses Moreno was WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Offensive lineman Anthony Cesario was named Second-Team All-American by Sporting News.

Mike Bobo on 1997 team: “They’re part of the reason I’m here at Colorado State, because of the tradition of this place. I wanted to go to a place that had tradition. Colorado State has tradition. It’s been inconsistent at times, but there is tradition. Part of that great tradition is that `97 team and I’m looking forward to meeting more of those guys this weekend.”

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The CSU football team faces another virtual must-win in the quest to play for a conference title when the Rams host Air Force Saturday. Reporters Kevin Lytle and Kelly Lyell break down the matchup.
Kevin Lytle, Kelly Lyell